The Nebraska Cornhuskers, last year’s NCAA runner-up, is in State College to take on the unstoppable juggernaut that is the #1 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
Penn State has won the last four NCAA titles and is currently on an 82 dual meet winning streak, the most in NCAA history. Can the Huskers even slow the Lions down, let alone stop them? We’ll find out soon!
You can watch this dual on the Big Ten Network today, January 30th, starting at 8:00PM ET, if you subscribe to a cable bundle that carries the network. Or you can just follow along with this live blog for free. You can even do both if you so desire, the choice is yours!
Probable Lineups
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Alan Koehler/Kael Lauridsen, Nebraska
133: #6 Marcus Blaze, Penn State vs #10 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska
141: #13 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Brock Hardy, Nebraska
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #13 Chance Lamer, Nebraska
157: #2 PJ Duke, Penn State vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #7 LJ Araujo, Nebraska
174: #1 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #4 Christopher Minto, Nebraska
184: #1 Rocco Welsh, Penn State vs #6 Silas Allred, Nebraska
197: #1 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #10 Camden McDanel, Nebraska
285: #4 AJ Ferrari or Cade Ziola, Nebraska vs #9 Cole Mirasola, Penn State
Ziola was the only alternate listed in the Nebraska preview. There were no alternates listed in the Penn State preview. You can also read the preview written by our very own Jon Kozak right here, also for free.
Now that I’ve turned on BTN and seen the Big Ten Conference map commerical, I’m ready to start live blogging!
The great Shane Sparks and Jim Gibbons on the mic for the call. Startling lineup suggests were going to have 9 ranked matchups and 7 top ten matchups.
125: #1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Alan Koehler, Nebraska
1st period: It’s Koehler for Nebraska (pronounced KAY-lor). Lilledahl in on a shot off the whistle, he’s fighting through a whizzer and he scores in under 30 seconds. We’re in the Bryce Jordan Center so we’ve got the raised stage and rotating spotlight logos in the corners of the mat. Plus a big cat growl sound affect after the takedown. Quick escape. Koehler stops a go behind after a snap down and we get a stalemate. 3-1 Lilledahl. Soon after is another single leg and quick finish, 6-1. Escape for Koehler but a quick ankle pick and it’s 9-2 now in short time of the first. RT already over a minute. We’ll go to the second after no change in position.
2nd period: Koehler gets a free escape to start the second. Lilledahl right back in on an attack. Hard finish and Lilledahl has a 12-3 lead. Luke working on the right leg, trying to turn with a bow and arrow. Lilledahl flips Koehler but then Koehler gets off his back and might have a reversal. Lilledahl gets to his feet, never technically relinquishes control and gets back on top eventually. 14-3 as the period expires and Lilledahl has riding time locked up.
3rd period: Koehler goes nuetral, and Lilledah; has a takedown in the first 15 seconds of the period. Quick release but Koehler is recaught and it’s a 20-4 tech-fall to start the duall for the Nittany Lions!
Luke Lilledahl, Penn State tech-falls Alan Koehler, Nebraska, 20-4
Penn State 5, Nebraska 0
133: #6 Marcus Blaze, Penn State vs #10 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska
1st period: Van Dee from Pennsylvania and Blaze from Ohio. Solid stance as always for Blaze. Van Dee with a few fakes. Not much action half way through the period. Front head lock for Blaze but Van Dee wrestles out of it. Blaze attacks with about 45 seconds left but Van Dee defends. Another attack from Blaze and the fireman’s carry nets Blaze three points. Quick rideout and the period ends.
2nd period: Van Dee goes underneath. He’s out with little difficulty. Still 3-1 halfway through the period. Riding time is art 25 seconds for Blaze. And Van Dee gets dinged for hands to the face. I believe we heard the referree say on the broadcast that he was already warned so that’s an extra point for Blaze. Period ends in neutral, 4-1 in Blaze’s favorite.
3rd period: Blaze takes bottom. His first and second stand attempts are thwarted but he’s free on the third. 5-1, riding time down to just 3 seconds. Van Dee needs more than a takedown, though. Blaze keeping like Gibraltar in the center of the mat. Van Dee needs to score but he can’t find an opening. Blaze drops on a leg in short time and the match ends while they’re still in a scramble. Regular decision for Blaze!
Marcus Blaze, Penn State decisions Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska, 5-1
Penn State 8, Nebraska 0
141: #13 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Brock Hardy, Nebraska
1st period: Can Hardy stop the bleeding? It’s one of the few bouts where the Huskers will be favored. Davis coming right after Hardy off the whistle. Might have Hardy in trouble! Hardy bellies out and Davis gets the first takedown. Big mat return sets the crowd off. 3-0 after an out of bounds restart and just 30 seconds of wrestling. Another mat return but then Hardy is up and out. Davis with a good head fake and he’s back on a leg. Extended scramble and Davis has his second takedown. Hardy gets mat returned again but then stands and escapes. 6-2 with a little less than a minute left in the period. The crowd is loving the action, and of course they do, they’re wrestling fans! Period ends same score, 1:09 of RT for Davis.
2nd period: Davis takes bottom and Hardy quickly breaks him down flat. Davis builds up, sits and escapes, 7-2, 1:30 left in the period. Hardy gets hit with stalling. Both wrestlers working hard on their setups right now. Hardy changes levels, he’s in deep, he’s got a body lock but Davis has nearly recovered. Hardy keeps driving and they go out of bounds, inducing a stall call on Davis. They’ve each got a warning now. Blood time for Davis. On the restart, knee pick for Hardy, Davis counters, nearly comes around, more scrambling. Then Hardy gets a badly needed takedown and ride out to make it 7-5 going into the third.
3rd period. Quick escape for Hardy makes it 7-6. A little more than a minute to go. Riding time not a factor. Shot by Davis, he’s got a leg but he’s extended. Hardy sits the corner, he locks up a cradle, and Davis is on his back. It’ll be big points for Hardy, and a pin! Huge fall for Brother Brock! Some extra ciriculars after the pin. Hardy taps Davis’ belly, Davis takes exception and steps to Hardy but it’s all diffused. In any event, Huskers get on the board in a big way!
And it turns out Penn State lost a team point due to Davis’ reaction. He did kind of kick Hardy a little so yeah, don’t kick even if you get some unwanted belly pats I guess.
Brock Hardy, Nebraska pins Braeden Davis, Penn State
Penn State 7, Nebraska 6
149: #1 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #13 Chance Lamer, Nebraska
1st period: Lamer gets the first takedown, but that can be dangerous on a wrestler like Van Ness, who loves a good comeback. Quick escape makes it 3-1. Blood time with 1:47 left in the first. Van Ness always attacking but Lamer’s counters could make that strategy tricky. Van Ness keeps the pressure on for the final minute of the period but no scores, no stall calls. 3-1 Lamer leads.
2nd period: Van Ness takes bottom, sits, turns and is out to make it 3-2.
